SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Budgam and Pulwama districts, once famous for their almond orchards, are being converted into concrete commercial areas and residential colonies are spreading everywhere. Massive urbanisation over the years, poor prices for local varieties and competition from imports have contributed to dwindling production of almonds in Kashmir. “Due to poor rates, we were forced to remove all almond trees from our land,” said a farmer, who once had acres of land where he grew almonds.
In Budgam itself, many almond growers have stated growing apples instead, said Mohd Younis Mir, another farmer. In 2015 alone, the district lost 5,665 hectares of land where almonds once used to be grown. “Almost every farmer from Budgam and Pulwama has converted a major portion of their almond orchards into apple gardens. The reason is that Kashmiri almond was losing market to California varieties,” he said. While he has a few Kanals of land still under almond cultivation, he is in dilemma whether to convert it too or wait for some time. “If the situation continues like this, more farmers may shift to apple cultivation,” Mir added. The area under almond cultivation has declined by nearly 70 percent in last 10 years. Official figures reveal that the area under cultivation has declined from 16,418 hectares in 2011 to mere 5483 hectares in 2021.
In scores of villages of Pulwama, which is the largest producer of almonds, people have completely shifted to apple and other farming. Hundreds of acres of land have been lost to either apple or some other crop in Koil, Payar, Chandigam, Lajoora, Pahnard, Pachnargd Parigam, and Thokernag. Similarly in Budgam district Chadoora, Charrar-e-Sharief, Gowher Pora, Dalwan, Panzan Roopwan, Old Airport site and many other areas have lost hundreds of acres of almond orchards. “It didn’t happen overnight. Farmers, after witnessing that apple was fetching good money, gave up almond cultivation. Pulwama had a reputation for producing quality almonds, but now hardly any farmer is growing almond,” said Ahsaanul Haq from Parigam, Pulwama. “Kashmiri almond is very sweet and has good oil content. Still, it couldn’t survive the invasion by California variety,” said Mohd Younis, an almond supplier. As per the figures, 115.05 metric tonnes of almonds were imported to India in 2019 compared to 34.36 metric tonnes in 2008. A Dry-fruit seller from Srinagar said almonds from Afghanistan, Iran and California are majorly being sold to the customers. “It is because these almonds are bigger and inexpensive. Kashmir almond is small but tastes good,” he added. An official from the horticulture department said that department is working to revive the almond cultivation in Kashmir. “We are encouraging farmers to grow almonds and even department supplies saplings to growers,” he said.
